Automobile.



H. B. LAYMAN.

AUTOMOBILE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT.20, 1913.

1,142,337. PatentedJune 8, 1915 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WW1/moz 3 :f1/vanto@ H. B. LAYMAN.

AUTOMOBILE.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.20. 1913.

PatentedJune 8, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Illill! B. Layman, 2% W HEBRON B. LAYMAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR or ONE-HALF To FRANK n.

LONAS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMOBILE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1915.

Application filed October 20, 1913. Serial No. 796,137.

To all whomlit may concern Be it known that LHEBRON B. LAYMAN, a citizen of the United States, and residing at New York, in the countyvof New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Automobiles, of which the ollowing is a specification, such'as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same'.

This invention relates to automobiles or power driven vehicles, and particularly to the chassis o`r truck frame thereof, and the object of the invention isto provide a chassis orframe for vehicles of thls class in which the side bars oryrails thereof are made hollow4 in order to receive the side sprin s which are placed therein and operate therein andere covered and protected thereby, and whereby the chassis or frame' including the springs ma I be made narrower than usual; a' further o ject being to provide improved means for m'ounting, supporting and connecting the s'ide springs, both front and back so as to facilitate the operation thereof and render the same more strong and durable; a still further object being to provide an automobile construction in which the chassis or truck frame' is supported by springs connected therewith and having a universal joint connection with 4the front and rear axles.

My invention also involves a new construction and combination of the side barsor rails of the chassis or truck frame and the running boards at the opposite sides thereof, as hereinafter described; andthe invention is fully disclosed in the following specification which the, accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improve'ment4 are designated by suitable reference' characters in each of the views, and in whichre f Figure 1 is a plan" view of the chassis or truck frame of an automobile constructed according to my invention, the front and rear axlcs thereof being also indicated Fig. 2 aside view thereof with part-of the construction broken away and in section'; Fig. 3.a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing .only the front end portion of the chassis or thick .frame and showing the' same on an enlarged scale with part of the construction 4 a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing only the rear end portion of the chassis or truck frame, and showing said portion in longitudinal section;-Fig. 5 a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3 and on an enlarged scale ;-Fig. 6 a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4 and on an enlar ed scale Fig. 7 a section on the line 7- of Fig. 4, or on 7--7 of Fig. 2, and onan scale;-Fig. 8 a partial section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 4 and on an enlarged scale;- Fig. 9 a section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 3 and on an enlarged scale ;-Figs. 10, 11 and 12, transverse sectional views showing modilied forms of one of the side bars or rails of the chassis or truck-frame land corresponding running board;-Fig. 13 a sectional view showing a modified form or construction for connecting one of the mud guards with the corresponding running board, and ;-F ig. 14 an inner end view of a running board brace or support which I employ, and showing the same detached, and

in section ;`Fig.

enlarged 1 a longitudinal side view of which is given in Fig. 6.

In the accompanying drawings,reference i being made to Fig. 1, 1 have shown my improved chassis or truck frame which comrises side bars or rails a connected by cross gars a2 arranged at the front and thereof and centrally thereof, and said frame is provided with the usual side running boards a3 and front and rear' wheel mud guards a4 and a5.

The side bars or rails a of the chassis or truck frame are formed from sheet metal and made hollow and are also preferably U-shaped in cross section and open downwardly,`as shown in Fig. 5', except where and when they are' closed' at the bottom by plates rear ends y b, this closure of the bottom of said side bars or rails, or a essential feature. a3 are preferabl p in which through the plates -tions al and the and these ianges may e secured thereto,

with side ianges o4.

flhe opening in the bottom of the side portions-for rails a is preferably closed, as hereinbefore" stated,

for 7the full length of the running boards a3, or between the points a and a", in Fig. 2, and this may be done by the separate plate or plates b, shown in Figs. 4, 6 and 7, or it may. be done by forming the plate or plates b integrally with the inner side portions of the bars or rails a, as shown at b2 inFig. 10, or the bars or rails a may be .formed of separate parts, as shown in Fig. 11, thev inner sides a.10 and the bottom or closure plates bu and the running boards a3 being integral, while the outer sides a and the top portions a.12 are also formed integrally and connected with the parts al", ba and a3; or said rails or bars may beformed, as shown in Fig. 2, the running boards a3, and the outer top and side portions a and 1.12 are formed integrally, and the inner side porbottom closure plates b4 are formed integrallyv and connected with the parts a, a and a.

The mud 4guards a* and a" consist of crown portions a and a and back plates a and al, and thecrown portions a and a may be formed integrally with the running boards'aa, or they may be formed separately and connected therewith in any de-l sired manner, preferably as shown in Fig.

13, in which the ends of the running boards are provided with downwardly directed flanges a, and the corresponding ends of the crown'portions of the mud guards with a similar downwardly directed flange al.

be connected in any desired manner, and placed transversely over this connection of the running boards and the crown portions of the mud guards is a transverse molding strip al.

The front side springs d are of the usual form, and the rear end portions d2 thereof are secured in hangers e secured ing" and suspended from the side rails or bars a, as clearly shownin Figs. y3 and 5. yThe hangers e comprise side plates e secured in the rails or bars a by bolts e on which are mounted sleeves e, and the plates e2 'are secured keepers e'j the rear or butt ends d2 secured, yoke-shaped members e and bottom plates in which of the springs d are bers e6 and bottom plates e" being provided with side flanges e through vwhich are passed bolts and screws 61 are passed e7 into thebottom members of the springs I have also shown at ,f and g in Figs. 1 and 2, the front and rear axles of the velwhic lthe bottom leaf or spring members d3 the springs in the lower ends of said keepers e consisting of top said yoke-shaped memd to prevent said springs.

from moving forwardly.4

hicle on which the chassis or truck .frame is mounted, and 'in 3 I have shown the front axle, and in Fig. 4 the rear axle, and the front axle f is provided with bearing boxesl f2 which o n forwardly and backwardly and in which are mounted split bearings in which are placed balls. f* through are passed spring Shanks h in whicl;

o dare secured, as shown in Fig. 3. The springl shanks h and balls f* are rigidly structlon, a. free4 rotary movement of the front end portions .of thesprings d in the' front axle f is provided for, both laterally and vertically.

The inner sides of the boxes f2 are closed by flexible caps f through which the spring Shanks h pass, andthe ronts or outer sides of said boxes are closed b caps f bolted or otherwise secured to sai boxes, as shown at f', and the caps g aid in holding the split bearings f in the oxes f2, and said caps f are provided with large central openings fs closed by iexible caps f through which the spring. shanks also pass.

Thev rear axle gis provided with hangers i rigidly connected therewith and provided at their lower ends with bearing boxes f3 exactly the same in all respectsv as the beariing boxes f2 connected with, or formed in connection with, the front axle f, and thc bearing boxes f2 of the'rear axle g are provided with spring h with which the rear ends of the bottom spring members i2 of the rear side springs y' are connected, this construction being the same in all respects as the front end connections of the front side springsd.

The rear side springsl j are of the usual form, or consist of leaves or plates placed one upon another and decreasing in length' from the bottom leaf or plate upwardly, and said springs Vare entirely inclosedin the side bars or rails a. and are pivoted therein at j, and are passed through box-shaped casings m placed .in sa-idbars or rails, as shown 4 and 6,- and passed through the connected, and by means of th1scon-.

bottom of box-shaped casings and bular bearings m2 are plates m having hub l portions fm. through which the bearings fm.2 pass, and said bearings m2 are provided in one side with perforations m7, and arc also preferably provided with sleeves m8, and the perforations or holes 'mi' are connected at the outer surfaces of the bearings m2 by grooves fm?. The springs j rest on the plates m and are secured thereto by yoke-shaped keepers 'n in the usual manner, making the bearings fm. tubular in form and perforating them, is to provide means for and the object of.

' tions of said springs in y durability thereof, and

lubricating the pivotal supports of the springs j, and the heads m4 of the bearings m2 are closed by caps m1", or said heads may be provided with ordinary oil cups if desired.

At the front ends of the springs j, the two bottom leaves or plates j* thereof pass between roller bearings o mounted in the bars or rails a, and said roller bearings pass transversely through said bars or rails and through reinforcing yoke-shaped frames p placed therein. The roller bearings o are made tubular in form and the construction thereof is the same as that of the bearings m2 whereby said roller bearings serve as lubricators, and said roller bearings are provided with sleeves 02 and with perforations or holes iii one side thereof and with nuts o3 at one end and hollow heads 04 at the other end which are closed by caps o, but it will be understood that these lubricating bearings, as well as the lubricating bearings m2, may be made in any desired manner, and in the operation of the vehicle, the front ends of the springs j are movable freely through or between the roller bearings 0, and the rear end portions thereof are rotatable both in horizontal and vertical planes within the bearing boxes f2, and within certain limits.

Within the rear end portions of the reinforcing yoke-shaped frames or members p are top and bottom guide plates 1' which converge in a forward direction, and which serve to guide the front end portions of the springs j between the bearings o in the operation of assembling these parts, and which also serve to hold or retain said end porposition between said bearings and to return them into proper position if at any time they .should be withdrawn from between said bearings.

It will be understood, of course, that the means herein employed for connecting the springs d and j with the front and rear axles constitute what is known as universal joints, and this provides for both a horizontal and vertical rotary movement for said springs in their connection with said axles, and this facilitates the operation of said springs and adds to the strength and by making the side bars or rails a of the chassis or truck frame of sheet metal in the manner described, I effect a saving in material and weight, and at the same time produce stronger side bars or rails than those heretofore employed, and I also provide housings for the rear side springs which protect said springs from the elements and prevent rust from forming in connection therewith and dust and dirt from accumulating thereon, and the front springs d are also partially protected, said springs being always covered by the front end portions of the side bars or rails, and

being partially inclosed thereby when the` vehicle is in operation.

There is also, as will be understood, an economy in my improved method of making the running boards a3 in connection with the side bars or rails, and this also adds to the strength of said side bars or rails as well as to the strength of the running boards, and while I have shown and described the preferred form and construction of my improved chassis or truck frame for automobiles, it must be understood that changes in and modifications of the various details thereof, as herein shown and described, lmay be made, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantages.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the front springs al are cantaliver springs and the rear springs j are double cantaliver springs, but my invention is not limited to the use of cantaliver springs at the front of the chassis or truck frame, and double cantaliver springs at the rear thereof, and either type of spring may be used at either the front or rear, or at both the front and rear, and my invention is also not limited toy any particular means for securing said springs to the chassis or truck frame, and while I have described the means for connecting the springs with the axles, as a universal joint or coupling, it will be observed that the said joint or coupling is, in effect, a spherical seated spring joint arranged for axial motion.

Having fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A chassis or truck frame for power driven vehicles having U-shaped side bars or rails, the open sides of which are directed downwardly, the central portion of said side bars or rails being closed at the bottom thereof, and said side bars or rails forming housings for the rear side springs which are mounted therein and connected with the rear axle.

2. A chassis or truck frame for power driven vehicles having U-shaped side bars or rails, the open sides of which are directed downwardly, the central portion of said side bars or rails being closed at the bottom thereof, and said side bars or rails forming housings for the rear side springs which are mounted thereon and connected with the rear aXle, the front springs being also secured in the bottom portions of said bars or rails and being connected with the front axle.

3. A chassis or truck frame for power driven vehicles provided with hollow bars or rails which form housings for the rear side springs which are mounted therein and which have a universal joint connection with driven vehicles having hollow the rear axle, the front side springs being also supported in the front bottom portions of said bars or rails and having a universal joint connection with the front axle.

4. A chassis or truck frame for power driven vehicles having side bars or rails which are formed hollow, and in which the rear side springs are mounted, said springs having a central rotary pivotal support and the rear ends thereof 'having universal joint connections with the rear axle, and the front end portions thereof being passed between roller bearings.

5. A chassis or truck frame for power driven vehicles having side bars or rails which are formed hollow, and in which the rear sidel springs are mounted, said springs having a central rotary pivotal support and the rear ends thereof having universal joint connections with 'the rear axle, and the front end portions thereof being passed between roller bearings, the central pivotal supports of said springs and the-roller bearings for the front end portions thereof being provided with means whereby they may be lubricated.

6. A chassis or truck frame for power `driven vehicles having hollow side bars or rails open at the bottom, and rear end side vsprings mounted in said side bars or rails, and provided at their rear ends with' a universal jointv connection with the rear axle, the front end portions of said springs being passed between roller guides supported in said side bars or rails.

7 A chassis or truck frame for power driven vehicles having hollow side bars or rails open at the bottom, and rear end side springs mounted in said side bars or rails, and provided at their rear ends with a universal joint connection with the rear axle, the front end portions of said springs being passed between roller guides supported in said side bars or rails, and the front sidev springs being also supported in the bottom portions of said side bars or rails and having unversal joint connections with the front ax e.

8. A chassis or truck. frame for power driven vehicles having side bars or rails which are U-shaped in crossl section and which open downwardly, said side bars or rails forming housings for the rear side springs, and the front side springs being also supported in said side bars or rails, said front side springs having auniversal joint connection with the front axle, and the rear side springs having a universalconnection with hangers secured to the rear axle.

9.- A chassis or truck frame for power side bars or rails in which the rear side springs are mounted, said springs being pivotally supported centrally thereof, and the rear e nd portions thereof having a universal jolnt connection with hangers secured to the rear axle, and the front end portions of said springs being passed between roller bearings mounted in the side bars or rails.

10. A chassis or truck frame for power driven vehicles provided with side bars -or rails and front side springs and rear side springs connected with said bars or rails at the front and rear ends thereof, said springs being connected with the front and rear axles by universal joints having central rotary spherical members, and said springs being provided with end portions or Shanks which pass centrally through said spherical members, and to which said members are secured. I

11. -A chassis or truck frame for power driven vehicles provided with hollow side bars or rails which form housings which are open at their ends, and rear side springs secured in said housings and the rear ends of which are connected with the rear axle by universal joints having' central spherical rotary members, and the rear ends of said springs being `provided with end portions or shanks which pass centrally through said rotary members and to which said members are secured.

12. A chassis or truck'frame for power driven vehicles provided with hollow side bars or rails which form housings which are open at their ends, and rear side springs sel cured in said, housings and the rear ends of which are connected with universal joints having central spherical rotary members, and the rear endsof said springs being provided with end portions or Shanks which pass centrally through said rotary members and to which said members are secured, said side bars or rails being also provided with side, front springs which are connected with the front axle-by universal joints involving central rotary spherical members, and said springs being provided with end portions or Shanks which pass centrally through said members and to which said members are secured. j

' 13. A chassis or truck frame for power driven vehicles 'provided with side bars or rails which'are U-shaped in cross section andv which open downwardly and which form housings for y the rear side springs which are mounted therein, and the outer ends of which are connected with the rear axle by universal joints involving central spherical rotary members, said springs being provided with end portions or Shanks which pass through said rotary members and to which said membersl are secured.

14. A chassis or truck `:frame for power driven vehicles provided with side bars or rails which are U-shaped in cross section and which open downwardly and which form housings for the rear side springs which are and said ends ofA lrotary members,

springs being provided with end portions or mounted therein, and the outer ends of which are connected with the rear axle by universal joints involving .central spherical and said ends of said Shanks which pass through said rotary members and to which said members are secured and front side springs secured to said side bars or rails and connected with the front axle by universal joints involving central spherical rotary members, and said springs being provided with Shanks which pass through said rotary members and to which said members are secured.

15. A chassis or truck frame for. power driven vehicles rails in connectiomwith which the `front and back side springs are connected, said front and back side springs being connected with the ront and rear axles by universal joints having central rotary members, and said springs being provided with Shanks which passthrough and are secured in said memers.

16. A chassis or truck frame for power driven vehicles provided with hollow side bars or rails open at the bottom, and rear side springs mounted in said rails and having central and front end bearings therein, the rearvends of said springs being connected with the rear axle by universal joints.

17. A chassis or. truck frame for power driven vehicles provided with hollow side bars or rails in which the rear end side springs are placed, said rear end side springs being provided within said rails with central and front end movable bearings, and the.

rear ends of said springs be ng connected with the rear axle by universal joints, said ymovable provided with side bars or springs having universal joint connections `rwith the front axle.

18. A chassis or truck frame for power driven vehicles provided with side rails and rear side springs connected with said rails and having central pivotalA connections and sliding front end bearings, the rear end of said springs being connected with the rear axle b universal joints. n

1 9. n an automobile construction, a vchassis or truck frame having side bars or railsand rear end springs connected with said central and front end bearings, the rear ends of said springs being connected withl'hangers suspended from therear axle, and by means of universal joints.

V20. A chassis or vtruck frame for power driven lvehicles provided with side vbars or rails formed from sheet metal and U-shaped in the bottom thereof, said side bars or rails being' provided on their outer sides with integral running boards and mud guards, and said side bars or rails also serving as housings for the rear side springs which are entirely inclosed therein except at their rear ends where they are connected with the rear axle of the vehicle.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of the subscribing witnessesA this 18th day of October 1913.

HEBRON B. LAYMAN. Witnesses:

C. MULREANY, S. ANDREWS.

side bars or Tails, and provided with 1n cross section, the opening therein being l 

